While Pope Francis’ post-surgery recovery is going well, his surgeons advised against having him give his Sunday blessing from a hospital balcony to prevent stress on his abdominal walls.
Chief surgeon Sergio Alfieri said the 86-year-old pope had agreed to the doctors’ recommendations that he stay there for at least the entirety of next week when he briefed reporters at the Gemelli hospital on Saturday.
On Wednesday, Francis underwent a three-hour procedure to fix an abdominal hernia.
Alfieri claimed that the pope did give his blessing while standing on the balcony in 2021, the most recent time he underwent surgery at the same hospital, but it was roughly seven days after the intestinal procedure.
His abdominal walls are put under stress every time he gets out of bed and sits in a chair. There have only been three days. We requested the Holy Father to exercise caution and refrain from straining himself by remaining on the balcony, he said.
He claimed that the pope was now eating semi-solid foods after having his intravenous tubes removed on Friday. There were no cardiac issues, and all medical parameters were within the normal range.
